As a design, property and construction consultancy operating in the housing sector for the last 40 years, currently managing over £400m of new build, planned maintenance and improvement projects for London based landlords and developers, Pellings is keen to support any policies from the London Mayor, that work to improve the increasingly urgent issue of affordable housing in the capital.

Richard Claxton, Chairman of Pellings, has given his initial comments in response to the draft housing strategy released by the Mayor of London earlier this month.

"In the last few years the London housing market has seen a dramatic decline in the number of contractors in the market, especially those that want and are able to undertake small scale developments.

"Unless the underlying skills shortages we currently face in our market are also addressed as part of this strategy, the successful delivery of the mayor's strategy is ultimately threatened," Claxton adds.

However, he welcomes the promised steps in the draft to ensure clarity in the definition of 'affordable' homes. "This will be a key positive in providing more homes for the people of London who are in need." he concludes.